I really doubt that Joan Walsh is any kind of baseball fan at all. After all, she mocked Jim Geraghty's article on Giuliani, claiming that the former New York mayor spent more time at Yankee games than at Ground Zero. Any serious baseball fan (and any serious New Yorker) knows how critical the Yankees were to the healing process in the Big Apple after the tragic attack. In fact, HBO did an excellent documentary on that very subject called "Nine Innings from Ground Zero." And THAT's why Giuliani spent so much time in BOTH places. So, pah-leeeze, Joan, don't try to pass yourself off as a baseball fan. As Jim Geraghty put it, you're no more than an axe-grinding hack.

I just love it that us Catholics from Boston get P'Od when people criticize our Jews!

Go Denis!

Regarding the anti-semitic tone of some of the responses to this article:

I think that the issue of anti-semitism among the self-proclaimed Left or Progressive community could use some journalistic examination.

My basis for this assertion is limited, but relevant. Over the last few years, I have wasted (much) too much time debunking the claims of the 911 Conspiracy Theorists. Among the first of such claims was the assertion that thousands of Israeli citizens failed to report for work at the WTC on 911. Among current theories is an incoherent story about Larry Silverstein (he's a Jew, you know) ordering the NYFD to "Pull it" (destroy WTC7), thereby (somehow) making money. Or something. As the "Truth Movement" has descended into madness (Dustification Beams and Holographic Airplanes, anyone) it has merged with the extreme Right, merging 911 Conspiracies with Holocaust Denial.

Many of these folk are frankly insane; some are just anti-authority and will shift their hatred to the next President when George Bush leaves office. Still, the stories are out there, bubbling around. Someone needs to keep an eye on them.

Oh, if only everyone had access to the humor of Jon and Denis!

It boggles my mind that hints of Racism and Sexism are met with cascades of comments and emotions, whereas Audism and other discrimination against disabled groups are routinely accepted. The same week Imus made his infamous nappy-headed ho comment, another radio persona stated that G-d hated Deaf people. Where was the outrage? Any institution which bars women would probably pop up in some Broadsheet form. Where is the same collective disgust with forms of media which bars the Deaf?

Joan has all of my respect, but her concern about anti-semitic thought in feedback about the Jewish Baseball players is stark when contrasted with the unintentional Audism of providing inaccessible media. Would it be so hard to provide open captioning, or at the least, a transcript? Deaf individuals are not the only audience who would benefit. I'm sure an aging baby boomer population would appreciate not having to crank the volume to deafening levels.

I don't mean to single out Joan and Salon - lack of access is problematic for all news media, both televised and streamed, but until recently, I was able to access all of Joan's points! It's frustrating to be, again, denied information from a favored source.

If only everyone had the same sense of humor about the subject that Jon and Dennis have! Then this letters section wouldn't be so tedious and depressing.

In all seriousness, you'd have done well to have someone write about the best Muslim ballplayers, too. It would be every bit as interesting and topical--even more so, in my opinion. I think the only reason this wouldn't occur to you is that Jews are more visible and familiar to you, especially in the media universe. But that's not much of an excuse for the neglect of other religious minorities.

There's a lot of celebration of Jewishness in the media these days, and that's a wonderful thing. But Muslims are no less a part of America, and they're pretty desperately in need of some positive coverage, which is something I'd think you'd be sensitive to. And the defense of simply asking "Why can't we just innocently celebrate this one group?" is awfully reminiscent of how people defended the celebration of WASP culture for so many years while they ignored Jews.

In all seriousness, you'd have done well to have someone write about the best Muslim ballplayers, too. It would be every bit as interesting and topical--even more so, in my opinion. I think the only reason this wouldn't occur to you is that Jews are more visible and familiar to you, especially in the media universe. But that's not much of an excuse for the neglect of other religious minorities.

There's a lot of celebration of Jewishness in the media these days, and that's a wonderful thing. But Muslims are no less a part of America, and they're pretty desperately in need of some positive coverage, which is something I'd think you'd be sensitive to. And the defense of simply asking "Why can't we just innocently celebrate this one group?" is awfully reminiscent of how people defended the celebration of WASP culture for so many years while they ignored Jews.

I'm a half-breed, and while the Jewish half of me enjoys reading about Jews, the Christian half recognizes that Jews do tend to get inordinate cultural coverage, or so it seems.

I know it may seem to non-Jews that Jews have some sort of ill-gotten hegemony on culture, but it's not really ill-gotten anymore than African Americans' domination in basketball. In both cases, the operant generator is "passion." Jews have a passion for entertainment, writing and cultural goings-on. If you're a Jew and not a lawyer, doctor or CPA, you'd better be in one of the creative fields and you'd better be successful or else you will have your mother and aunts criticizing you for the rest of your life with questions like, "So, you're still working at that auto store?"

And the Christian half of me recognizes what the Jewish half knows instinctively: In addition to being inordinately bright, Jews are funny, insightful and creative. Not all of them, mind you. You'll find an occasional Jew fetching sparkplugs behind the auto parts store counter. And every once in a while one shows up in the NBA or the World Series. And then the Christian half stands by and watches the Jewish half kvell.